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The pain of the goal that never was spurs on Frank Lampard ahead of Germany clash
HE’S not the sort of bloke who bears a grudge, but Frank Lampard really would love to settle an old score on Tuesday.
Or in this particular case, the score that wasn’t!
Lampard has never forgotten the equalising goal he scored which was ruled outagainst Germany in the last World Cup – simply because he’s not been allowed to.
That was nearly four years ago, but few fans have forgotten that England were robbed of an equaliser at a time that could have proved so crucial.
That’s one of the main reasons Tuesday’s friendly at Wembley against Germany has got such an edge about it and will be played to a packed house.
Lampard said: “I wouldn’t say it burns deep, but it is obviously in the back of everyone’s mind. I still get asked about it a lot, but there’s nothing you can do.
“But I really would love to play on Tuesday. That’s what we are here for, particularly against Germany. They are our rivals, not in a terrible way, because we have a lot of respect for them. But we want to beat them.
“There is no such thing as a friendly against Germany. There’s a lot of history and that’s the way it should be.”
Lampard is quick to point out he doesn’t blame the Germans for what happened in South Africa – just the referee and his linesman. And painful though it was at the time, some good has come out of it.
“It has created a change in football where we’ve got some goal-line technology which is a bonus,” he pointed out.
“But it was disappointing because it would have changed the game. We came out in the second half at 2-1 down and then we hit the bar. I remember hitting the bar with a free-kick.”
Despite the defeat by Chile on Friday, Lampard, who was presented with his 100th international cap before the game, remains convinced he and England are in a better place than they were after the last meeting with Germany.
“Credit to us as a group, we’ve bounced back. I think we have more of a positive feel about us now.
“But Germany created a very strong impression at that World Cup and were disappointed not to go the final.
“With the young players they have got coming through I think they have a very impressive squad, not just the eleven.”